1. It effects us all There is an epidemic in America There is an epidemic in America

2. Our Schools are in trouble.

3. It is estimated that the cost of illiteracy to business and the taxpayer is $20 billion per year.

4. Think its not your problem

5. Approximately 50 percent of the nation's unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs.

6. 60 percent of America's prison inmates are illiterate and 85% of all juvenile offenders have reading problems.

7. More than 20 percent of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level - far below the level needed to earn a living wage.

8. How many people does this effect?

9. 21 million Americans can't read at all, 45 million are marginally illiterate and one-fifth of high school graduates can't read their diplomas.

10. It is estimated that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they have reading problems.

11. Since 1983, more than 10 million Americans reached the 12th grade without having learned to read at a basic level. In the same period, more than 6 million Americans dropped out of high school altogether.

12. 54 percent of all teachers have limited English proficient (LEP) students in their classrooms, yet only one-fifth of teachers feel very prepared to serve them.

13. Who’s fault is it?

14. Can we afford to do nothing?

15. Can Parent involvement help?

16. The evidence is in: when schools and families work together to support learning, everyone benefits. * Students do better in school and in life. * Parents become empowered. * Teacher morale improves. * Schools get better. * Communities grow stronger.

17. It takes a village to raise a child

18. How does community involvement effect learning ?

19. Parent, family, and community involvement in education correlates with higher academic performance and school improvement.

20. What's the answer??